American Handgunner Sep/Oct 2014 Digital Edition - Page 68

ParaUSA’sEliteLS Huntershowcasesa6"barrel, excellentworkmanshipand stockadjustablesights. DanWesson’sRazorbackRz-10offersa5"barrelandtopqualityworkmanship,remindingMarkofacustomgun. gun came in the form of their Model 20SF featuring a smaller grip diameter. This design is welcome for smaller hands. With a standard magazine capacity of 15 rounds, you could solve a lot of serious problems before reloading. It took a little getting used to the trigger, but once I shot the gun several times it was actually easy to operate. The slide release is small in design but painless to manipulate. Grips are textured and comfortable even shooting heavy loads. Right-handed shooters will have no issues with the Federal’s“VitalShok”Trophy Bonded10mmloadoffersanhonest 1,275fpsandchases.41Magnum performance.Markfoundmanyof thefactory10mmloadsareinthis sameperformanceenvelope. positive magazine release. Even with combat-style fixed sights I could keep respectable groups at 25 yards. As a handgun hunter I will opt for adjustable sights. Glock’s high-tech polymer frame handled recoil much better than anticipated. I never experienced one malfunction and we ran through a lot of magazines with different loads. The Glock 20SF can be concealed in a proper holster with edges smooth enough not to snag. If you like having the capability of firepower, the Glock 20SF delivers in spades. The gun came with two extra magazines. A great defensive auto for bear or bad guys. When I took the Dan Wesson Razorback RZ-10 out of the box I thought it was a custom 1911. It’s a good-looking gun for sure. The RZ-10 incorporates a match-grade ramped barrel feeding BowenClassicArmsmassaged astockRugerintoafield-worthy 10mmhuntingrevolver. Dan Wesson RZ-10 BoWen classic arMs fter much discussion on 10mm semi-autos it’s only fair we give revolvers a fair shot. Withallthetestingof10mmIthoughtabout gettingarevolverforthisunderratedcartridge.Itwould makeanicepackinggunforthetrailplusIcoulduseitoncertaincloserange huntingopportunities. ItriedtofindaRugerBlackhawk“Buckeye”Convertiblemadewithtwointerchangeable cylinders — .38-40 Winchester and 10mm Auto. This was a special run of 5,000 guns for Buckeye Sports Supply a number of years ago. Basically thisgunwasastandardBlackhawkwithbluefinishwearinga6½"barrel.Ifound afewbutpricewasbeyondmybudget.ThenIlookedforS&W’sModel610built onthecompany’sN-Frame.UnliketheRuger,moonclipsarerequiredforejecting spentcases.Thecartridgeheadspacesontheclipandnotonthecasemouthlike thesingle-actionRuger.MyluckwithfindingagoodusedModel610waspathetic. Istartedexploringotheroptions. Luckily I made a call to Hamilton Bowen, one of the finest revolver ‘smiths inthecountry.ItoldthegentlemanfromTennesseewhatIwaswantingandhe delivered.IsentHamiltonaRugerBlackhawkin.357Mag.forhissimplecaliber conversion.Hereplacedthefactorybarrelwithacustom6".40caliberbarrel.I 68 a custoM ruger conVersion electedfortheclassicDxfrontsightwhichrequiredsight regulation. The black square notch with white outline rear sightseemsalmostliketargetsights. Thebasepinwasreplaced.Theactionwastunedsilkysmoothbyagunsmith whoknowsrevolversinsideandout.Iwasimpressedwiththetrigger,havingno creep, just a crisp clean break around three pounds. The standard grips were exchanged for a set of smooth Eagle Gunfighter grips comfortable for lengthy range sessions. This makes one dandy packing pistol, now riding comfortablyinaThadTybkacrossdrawholster. * For more info: Bowen Class Arms: www.bowenclassarms.com, (865) 984-3583; ThadRybkaholsters:2050CanoeCreekRd.,Springville,AL35146(Note:TRonly answersmailinquiries.) WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER2014